as in bays
a part of a body of water that extends beyond the general shoreline
a secluded cove that smugglers once used
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of coves
Online booking platforms have helped regular tourists to secure seats ahead of time for this short but significant connection to Siquijor, an island known for waterfalls, white-sand coves, and folklore.
—
Maria Williams, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
As such, its mass of untamed, scrubby green can today be traipsed through on foot or horseback, via ethereal blue coves such as Cala Marinella, the odd wandering fox and to the soothing rhythm of Aleppo pines rustling in the hot wind.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
Drive the ten-mile Ocean Drive loop, a scenic coastal route lined with rocky coves, Atlantic panoramas, and some of Newport’s most impressive historic estates.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 5 Jan. 2026
The lake’s quiet coves and clear water also offer some of the South’s finest (and most underrated) fishing opportunities for fly anglers.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 4 Dec. 2025
The Mediterranean island blends crystal-clear coves and chic beach towns while promising fewer tourists than neighboring destinations like Amalfi or Capri.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2025
Waves rose and slammed against beaches and coves.
—Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2025
Throughout the year, beachgoers enjoy its rocky coves and expansive sand, as well as the cliffs and headlands that preside over its shorelines.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2025
Another notable individual is a female known as Flame, who has been sighted 695 times over the past 20 years — more than any other humpback — mostly in the coves, bays, and inlets around Juneau, Alaska’s capital.
—Big Think, 26 Dec. 2024
Maria Williams, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
As such, its mass of untamed, scrubby green can today be traipsed through on foot or horseback, via ethereal blue coves such as Cala Marinella, the odd wandering fox and to the soothing rhythm of Aleppo pines rustling in the hot wind.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
Drive the ten-mile Ocean Drive loop, a scenic coastal route lined with rocky coves, Atlantic panoramas, and some of Newport’s most impressive historic estates.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 5 Jan. 2026
The lake’s quiet coves and clear water also offer some of the South’s finest (and most underrated) fishing opportunities for fly anglers.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 4 Dec. 2025
The Mediterranean island blends crystal-clear coves and chic beach towns while promising fewer tourists than neighboring destinations like Amalfi or Capri.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2025
Waves rose and slammed against beaches and coves.
—Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2025
Throughout the year, beachgoers enjoy its rocky coves and expansive sand, as well as the cliffs and headlands that preside over its shorelines.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2025
Another notable individual is a female known as Flame, who has been sighted 695 times over the past 20 years — more than any other humpback — mostly in the coves, bays, and inlets around Juneau, Alaska’s capital.
—Big Think, 26 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coves
Noun
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The project will also include a redesign of the hospital’s ambulance bays to include six total bays, three for drop-offs and three for staging.—
Ciara McCarthy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Jan. 2026
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What the engineers didn't take into account was that the airflow over the bomber's wings and fuselage along with the open bomb bays generated violent turbulence.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Get On The Water Matlacha is surrounded by mangroves and estuaries full of wildlife like dolphins, rays, and manatees.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
11 Jan. 2026
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But the discharges also can overwhelm the delicate estuaries east and west of the state’s largest lake and, during the warm summer months, spread blooms of toxic algae, an issue that has become more persistent in recent years.—
Amy Green,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Coves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coves. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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